AN: This chapter is going to be quite something. Prepare yourselves. The Flash family dinner is going to happen. It feels like the story is really ramping up this time around.

Warnings for: Homophobia apart from the usual violence you can expect

3. Legacy

The next day, Jason was led towards the visitor's area. He breathed in relief at getting away from Trickster's rambling. The guy just kept talking despite Jason's continued silence. Too dense to take the hint that Jason didn't want anything to do with him.

There was only one person who visited him. Jason sat down across from Nightwing as usual. His brother was in costume sitting behind the glass.

"Hey", Jason picked up the telephone, his handcuffs rattling.

"Hey", was the reply.

Nightwing tilted his head, looking Jason over.

"You be injure", Nightwing said.

Jason reached for his face. He had barely noticed the throbbing on his left cheek from Deathstroke's punch.

"I'm fine", Jason said.

"You not look."

Jason looked Nightwing over. His brother looked tense, fiddling with the tips of his fingers.

"You don't look fine either."

"I be good."

"If you're good, then I'm good, too."

Nightwing narrowed his eyes, tilting his head in the other direction. He radiated unhappiness.

Jason met his gaze. This was a conflict of wills.

"Fine. You win", Nightwing said, "I have… lot stress."

"I was told that the Rogues wiped the floor with your team."

Nightwing deflated: "They do."

"How did you get beaten so bad by a team that has the Trickster on it?"

"They know what they do. They be organize."

"And your team?"

Nightwing lowered his voice: "We be a disaster. We just have no idea what do in field. I see it but I not know how fix it. And it not my place say something about it."

"That's bullshit, N."

"You sound like them."

"Them?"

"Everyone. B especially. They all want me lead the team."

Jason cursed under his breath. He hated sounding like the old man.

Nightwing leaned forward as if they could come closer despite the glass: "I not can do it, Hood. They all… expect things of me."

"Because you're fucking brilliant, N."

Nightwing tensed.

"Your plan broke the Light apart. Luthor is caught in prison drama because of you. I don't know why you can't see how capable you are."

"It sweet that you think this, Hood", Nightwing fiddled with the phone cord.

Which was Nightwing's nice way of telling Jason that he didn't believe him.

"I'm not thinking it. I know it."

Nightwing stayed quiet.

"Come on, N. Be honest with me. Why do you think you can't lead?"

Nightwing avoided looking at Jason. Jason was making it hard for him by asking this question. His little brother was the one person Nightwing couldn't evade or lie to.

"I not capable, Hood. You hear the way I talk? I not even can talk when things get hard. Can you imagine a leader who get silent when scare? And I spend every night look at case files on the Titans computer. There be hundreds of them. You want know how many I read?"

"How many, N?", Jason softened his voice.

"Six I think? I not understand half the words. They just… blur in front of my eyes. A leader need know enemies good", Nightwing lowered his eyes, "And the cold. Captain Cold take me out so easy. It be pathetic."

Jason took a deep breath, trying to pick his words carefully.

Nightwing continued: "You understand why I want Tigress lead? She skill and smart.

The League like her."

"It's true, N. You aren't perfect – but that's okay."

"I need be perfect if team lives depend on me."

Jason's face softened. Leave it to the Court and Batman to put impossible standards on a guy.

"Is Batman perfect?", Jason asked, "And think very well about your answer."

Nightwing met Jason's eyes. A quiet battle being waged between them.

"No", Nightwing muttered, "He make mistakes, too."

"See? And he's still the most skilled a human can be. Don't tell him I said that though."

Nightwing chuckled.

"You know what a good leader needs to do?", Jason said, "What Red Hood lost sight of?"

Nightwing tilted his head.

"They need to inspire people. People need to believe in them."

"Who believe in me after everything I do, Hood?"

"I do – because you saved me. The Titans do – because you saved them."

Nightwing's hand tensed around the phone. He looked like he was at a loss for words.

"You just need to believe in yourself, N. You're your own biggest enemy most times."

It killed Jason to see N beat himself up so much.

N had a little smile on his lips: "I not the only one this apply to."

"We're not talking about me."

"I think we suppose to."

"You just want to deflect."

"I like see this side of you, Hood. Very thoughtful."

The little hypocrite was deflecting with kindness. Jason couldn't keep the smile off his lips.

"Prison gives you a lot of time to think – when your annoying roommate is not rambling at you."

"Annoying roommate?"

"I'm stuck with the damn Trickster."

Nightwing winced: "Maybe you can make friend your age."

"Really? With the damn Trickster?"

"I not like, too but you take what you get. Axel be young. Maybe he change."

Jason scoffed.

"I not want you be lonely, Hood", Nightwing frowned, looking worried.

"I'm not lonely. I'm more of a solitaire guy."

"Come on, Hood. You almost never be alone when we still live together."

"That was you. That's different."

"It not be. If you want get past punishment-stage, you need build life for yourself. And find friend be good for you."

Nightwing looked so earnest that Jason couldn't make a quip. Damn him. It was obvious that N was speaking from experience.

"My last friend stabbed me in the back and made me betray my family", Jason said.

Nightwing flinched at the mention of Themis. The memory was painful for both of them.

"You do it for me?", Nightwing said.

Jason gritted his teeth. Nightwing was playing dirty as well. Jason couldn't deny him such a request. Not when he had just preached at Nightwing to fix his own personal issues.

It felt like he was choking on glass when he said: "Fine. I'll try making friends with the damn Trickster."

Nightwing smiled.

"I can't believe you're pulling me into your little scheme to redeem every villain that exists."

"I be very proud of you, Hood."

Jason snorted. But he couldn't help the warm feeling in his chest.

Nightwing straightened his back, putting on a more neutral demeanor: "I need you be careful."

"Why?"

Nightwing told Jason about the inter-dimensional breach, the corrupted Green Lantern-ring and the mysterious speedster.

"He watched your headquarters?", Jason shuddered at the thought.

"They do. We not know who they be. Flash patrol headquarters currently. Try keep safe."

Jason winced. The implicit assumption was clear. The League did not trust the Titans to keep themselves safe.

"Do you know why?"

"No."

"That's fucking scary, N."

"It be – especially because Titans not be prepare for this. I not be."

"It makes no sense. The League is obviously the top dog team. If you want to invade earth, those are the guys to beat. If those multiversal villains are doing recon, they should know that."

"Right. I not understand, too. The League investigate but we not know much."

Jason felt an uncomfortable churn in his stomach. Someone was preying on his brother's team. It almost made him want to break out just so he could be with N and protect him. But what could Red Hood do that the League couldn't?

Nightwing seemed to notice Jason's concern: "I be fine, Hood. Whatever these invaders try, the League win. They always do."

"You're right", Jason's mouth was dry, "Just be careful, too."

Nightwing nodded.

"I come back soon", Nightwing smirked, no joy in his face, "Kid Flash bring me here. He owe me. He at my back and call now."

There was an irritated undertone in his voice.

"He owes you?"

"That what happen when you ask very stupid thing of your boyfriend."

"What did he do?"

"Not important. He work it off."

Jason shook his head. He considered digging but Nightwing looked exhausted. They had already shared enough emotions today.

"All right", Jason said, "He better make it up to you then."

Nightwing smiled: "I let him make it up for the next week. Then, he have enough torture."

"At least he wasn't stupid enough to break up with you again."

"He not dare."

Jason chuckled.

The guard told Jason that visitation time was over. Jason said goodbye to N and allowed the guard to lead him away. He felt re-energized. Talking with his big brother had this effect on him.

Wally brought Nighwing back to Titans headquarters. It was tense between them. Their goodbye kiss quick even for Wally. Nightwing put on a smile that slipped away when Wally took off with a 'see you tomorrow for the dinner'. He could only think of the glamour charm he would be wearing for the occasion.

Nightwing shook his head, pushing aside his personal issues. They didn't matter in the face of universe-ending staked. The issues the Titans faced were enough to make his mind race when sat down in front of the Batcomputer. He tried to focus on the case file he was reading but the words blurred in front of his eyes. It was a file Batman had made on every speedster that the League knew of.

Nightwing doubted that it was very useful. All these speedsters were this universe. Some were from the future, some from the past but they all belonged onto this world. Nothing about a speedster who travelled universes. Or Nightwing was just missing it because he had to look up every second word in this file. Speedforce, velocity, inertia… all these words went over his head.

Nightwing wondered if he could ask Wally about it. But Wally was out of the hero life and Nightwing didn't want to bother him with this. His boyfriend hadn't even properly met the Titans – by own choice. Nightwing couldn't pull him into his bullshit again. Not like with the undercover mission.

So, Nightwing bit his lip and continued reading. Jason believed in him. He couldn't disappoint him or Bruce. Bruce had looked so disappointed with Nightwing. What if he couldn't live up to-

He had to stop himself. He was a Talon. Talons compartmentalized. It was the one thing they were better at than other people that was helpful rather than atrocious.

The door opened. Nightwing recognized Vic's steps. One of them light, the other the slight clang of metal.

"Hey, dude", Vic said.

Nightwing looked up, grateful for the distraction to pull him out of his spiral: "Hey."

Vic looked tense again. Nightwing winced in sympathy. Vic suffered from more chronic pain than he showed.

"You're reading again?", Vic asked.

"Speedsters", Nightwing turned back to the screen.

"You should be the expert on the topic", Vic skim-read the file.

His eyes darted over the text at a speed that made Nightwing dizzy. He envied the speed with which Vic took in the information. Was it like that for normal people? Or did Vic have a partly mechanical brain to help him? Nightwing wondered if something like that could solve his problems, too.

"I be the expert on my speedster - not all them."

Though that was a lie. Nightwing did not know what was going through Wally's head currently.

Vic chuckled: "You see the part in the file where it says that Wally has the potential to reach the greatest velocity of all the speedsters we know?"

"What mean?", Nightwing bit his lip.

"He could be the fastest one day."

Nightwing frowned: "Wally always insist that Barry quicker."

"Currently, but the League sees potential apparently."

"Wally be retire."

Vic shrugged: "Are you hero-types ever really retired?"

Nightwing sat up. Tense suddenly.

"You be part of the hero-types, Vic."

Unlike Nightwing.

"Nah. I'm not sure if I'm really committed to the gig yet."

Nightwing suppressed a sigh. Vic's reluctance was getting tiring. Nightwing couldn't deal with it now. Not with all the issues swirling around his mind.

He turned back to the computer screen. His mouth quietly formed the words trying to take in their meaning. Vic stood beside him. Being watched made Nightwing nervous. He had expected Vic for some TV or video games.

"We heard the fight with Batman", Vic sounded fiddled with his hands.

Nightwing tensed: "I know."

"You know that you are good enough? You are damn scary."

Nightwing opted to stay quiet. He had gotten this talk already from Jason today. Why couldn't Vic just leave him be? Why couldn't everyone just leave him be? And stop putting these expectations on him that Nightwing just couldn't meet.

Nightwing carefully typed a word he didn't understand into the search window "p-a-r-a-d-o-x".

He cursed to himself when it took him forever to find each key. The explanation didn't say much. A paradox was a contradiction. What kind of explanation was that? How did that make sense?

"Tell me if I'm overstepping but why aren't you using a program to let the computer read it out to you?"

Nightwing frowned. He looked up at Vic. He had almost forgotten that his friend was still standing there. It was unlike him – to seek out personal conversation.

"I'm just saying: If reading is so difficult for you, listening to them would make it easier for you to get through these case files."

Nightwing tilted his head. He hadn't even known that this was an option.

"This is basically the Batcomputer, right?", Vic continued, "High-state tech. I'm sure it has a damn good programme."

"How put in?"

"Batman never showed you?", Vic frowned, incredulous.

Nightwing shook his head.

Vic pulled a chair closer for himself: "All right. Let me fix this."

He let the mouse glide over the screen. It made Nightwing's head turn how quickly he clicked the keys. After a minute, the computer read out the paragraph that Vic had highlighted. Nightwing looked at it in amazement.

"Try it", Vic gave him the mouse.

Nightwing highlighted the text and followed Vic's orders. The program read out the text he had highlighted.

"And let me show you, how you can look up words more easily", Vic said.

Vic showed Nightwing how to highlight words with the mouse and make the computer look them up. There was just silence between them as Nightwing followed Vic's steps. He smiled when he replicated them.

"There you go", Vic said, "That should make it far easier."

Nightwing looked at Vic, unsure what to say. Did Vic even know what he had just done for Nightwing?

"Thank you, Vic", Nightwing opted for the simple approach, "You be a genius."

Vic tensed for a moment but then he clapped Nightwing's shoulder: "It's nothing big."

"It be everything", Nightwing pulled back, "Read these files so slow and not understand it. It-"

Nightwing shook his head. He didn't know how to say it.

"I get it. Struggling so hard with something that is normal for most people? It hurts."

Nightwing frowned at Victor's sincerity. His teammate had never been this open.

"You be in pain."

Vic nodded. There were wrinkles on his face. Lines at the edge of his eyes where he squinted them in tension. Vic was in pain right now. Another sleepless night.

"I needed to learn how to use every part of my body again after the accident", Vic said, "It took me months. I was a football-player before the accident. Sports was my life. I was on my way to a full-ride scholarship. And here I was lying in a hospital bed – only able to drink through a straw. I couldn't control my limbs enough to hold a glass."

Nightwing's face softened. But he stayed quiet. Vic didn't want pity. Nightwing knew because he didn't want it either.

"I can control my limbs again", Vic continued, "But I still have these aches all over my body. I have to ride them out because I can't take meds every day."

"Chronic pain?"

"Yep. The full boat-load."

Nightwing looked at the lines on Vic's face: "Maybe you be too tense."

Vic scoffed: "You sound like my dad. Such a hypocrite."

"Tell me if I'm overstepping", Nightwing mirrored Vic's earlier words, "But maybe you want try some exercises."

"Exercises?"

"Yoga. Batman do for reduce chronic pain. He have lot pain but he say it help him relax. He have lot breathing techniques. I not use – obviously. But he teach Jason when he be tense and I watch."

Vic fidgeted with his fingers.

"I don't think", Vic sighed, "Ah screw it. Let's do it."

"I show you", Nightwing stood up, "We start easy. Just do bit for relax."

"How hard can yoga be?"

Nightwing tilted his head.

"I don't want to know", Vic followed Nightwing into the gym, "But I'll only join your weird yoga-cult if it helps."

Nightwing laughed: "Deal."

The next morning, Artemis approached the gym for her usual workout. She was intercepted by Nightwing.

He told her in a quiet voice: "Gym be occupy."

Artemis looked at her wristwatch: "At 7 in the morning?"

None of her teammates trained this early. They didn't even have the discipline to train every day like Artemis did. They thought that they didn't need to because of their powers.

"Vic be asleep."

"Asleep?"

Artemis quietly opened the door and peaked in. Vic was indeed lying on a yoga mat – a blanket covering his body. It was weirdly adorable.

"He have trouble sleep. I show him some exercises for help."

Artemis shook her head. Her time with the Team had shown her not to question the weirdness superheroes got up to.

"All right", Artemis said, "I guess I'll eat some breakfast before my workout then."

She went to the kitchen. Nightwing trailed behind.

There was a tense silence between them. It had been there ever since the undercover mission Artemis had been left out of. Artemis bit her lip. She missed her friend and the easy rapport they used to share but she did not know how to mend things between them.

The archer cut some fruit for herself, putting it in a bowl with some yoghurt. She sat down next to Nightwing on the counter.

"You be right, Artemis", Nightwing said, "Team need train and become better. We not good enough."

Artemis halted: "What happened to 'it's not my place to say anything'?"

"It not help say nothing. Jason and Vic show me."

Artemis frowned in surprise: "I guess we need to come up with a training plan for them then. Will be quite the rude awakening."

"They be powerful but they not just can rely on powers. They need more skill and teamwork."

Artemis smiled to herself. She couldn't help but feel vindicated.

"I sorry, Artemis", Nightwing said.

"Why?"

"I not say thing. And so you have to say thing always. And team not like."

"I did feel like the bad guy for a bit", Artemis admitted.

It was hard to be the newbie and constantly have to criticize the team. But Artemis had done it out of care. She was only human. If someone knew, how cruel the hero business could be, it was her. One misstep could end Artemis' career forever, either by injury or even more permanently.

Nightwing nodded: "We bring experience to team. We need use and show team how be good heroes. They be powerful and want do good things but everyone need training and guidance."

"They bring the firepower. We bring the skill."

"Exactly."

Artemis smiled back. It warmed her chest – to share a moment with him like this. Maybe that distance between them didn't have to be there.

Donna was surprised when Nightwing called in a morning team meeting. He had never called one before, opting to stay in the background for most of them. The Titans gathered in the common room, each taking their seat on the couch. Donna sat next to Starfire. The alien was a warm presence at her side.

The only exception were Nightwing and Artemis who stood in front of them. Donna frowned. Nightwing calling a team meeting was unusual. Nightwing leading a team meeting was downright unheard of.

Vic rubbed his eyes, running a hand through his hair.

"Where have you been, Vic?", Gar put his feet onto the table.

"I slept like a stone in the gym after that yoga session."

"Yoga? Isn't that for girls?"

Starfire crumbled a piece of paper from the coffee table and threw it at Gar's head. His eyes widened.

"By which I mean that it's very advanced and hard-to-do and really badass and-"

"You can join and see", Nightwing's eyes sprinkled in amusement, "Sound like you want a challenge."

Gar froze: "I ran my mouth again, didn't I?"

"You did indeed", Starfire said.

Donna smiled at her bluntness.

"We're actually here about training", Artemis exchanged a gaze with Nightwing, "The League is right. This team needs to be whipped into shape."

"That's what we called a meeting for?", Vic sighed, "You already told us that."

"And she be right", Nightwing raised his chin, "This speedster change everything."

The newer Titans grew quiet suddenly, perking up. Nightwing had never been this blunt. This was serious.

"You think they are watching us?", a shudder ran through Donna's back.

She hated the idea of someone preying on them. On whose radar had the Titans gotten?

"Possibly", Artemis said, "Likely. Flash said this speedster spent an extended period of time in the vicinity of this headquarters. We need to be prepared for an attack at any moment. I already updated the security systems."

"So, what? Dude can run fast. We kick his butt", Gar shrugged, "Flash is babysitting us like 80% of the time. We should be fine."

"Gar is right for once", Starfire said, "Let this speedster come. We shall fight. I shall not let them hurt my friends."

"No", Nightwing folded his arms behind his back, his gaze focused on them, "You not understand how powerful speedsters be. They be connect to the Speedforce – a cosmic energy. They can travel through time, across universes. Flash not just run fast. Can create tornadoes, too, by run circles. Heal faster, age slower. We not even know everything Speedforce can do."

Donna's stomach churned. They didn't know what they were dealing with.

Starfire reached for Donna's wriest, seemingly sensing her apprehension. Her friend's protectiveness made the Amazon's skin tingle. It reassured her. Whatever happened, Starfire would fight at Donna's side.

"Did your boyfriend tell you that?", Gar shifted on the couch, trying to bring some levity.

"Part of it", Nightwing took a pile of papers from the table in front of the computer, "This be League-file on Speedsters. You all read this until end of day."

He handed out the papers to everyone except Artemis.

"Why doesn't she get one?", Vic asked.

"Because I already had to memorize every detail in that file. This is serious", Artemis said, "If our mysterious speedster gets into this building, he could kill us all before we could react. So, we need to be prepared."

"The trick for defeat speedster is catch surprise", Nightwing said, "I not have chance defeat Kid Flash in straightforward fight if we both use powers. Never even try fight Flash. But if I surprise him, I have chance. If speedster surprise us, we dead."

Vic sighed: "All right. Let's do it."

"Great", Artemis rubbed her hands, "You can read the file after we finished the training programme Nightwing and I came up with. We're starting with a 10 mile run. No powers."

Vic and Gar groaned. But they did not protest. Starfire's gaze was one of steel. The warrior princess was ready.

Donna felt excitement rise within her. She knew that she needed to become better and this – it felt like a start.

The evening came far too quickly. Wally picked Nightwing up at Titans headquarters and they used the zeta tubes to travel to Blue Valley where Wally's childhood home was located. Nightwing was still registered as a detainee in the Zeta-system and had needed Wally's permission to use it. Wally frowned at that. The undercover mission was over, the restrictions on Nightwing lifted. The League should have already changed his designation back.

Now they were in the driveway, coming ever closer to the harmonious suburban home. Wally's foot twitched and he felt the need to just run. But they couldn't. Not without screwing up their clothes. Both had opted for dress shirts and shoes. Wally had gelled his hair, taming the usual red mess. Nightwing held potted petunias in his hand, Wally's mother's favorite flower.

"It be fine", Nightwing reached for Wally's hand, squeezing it, "I have the flowers."

A jokey tone was in his voice. Wally forced himself to smile a bit. Nightwing truly had no idea what his parents could be like.

"And if they not like me, we still be together", Nightwing's gaze softened.

"Of course", Wally's throat was dry.

He just tensed at the idea of his parents hating the person he wanted to spend his life with. It would hurt. It would be unbearable. Wally had striven for his parent's approval during all his teenage years. He had finally gotten it when he had started his physics degree, but Wally suspected that all that goodwill would be thrown out of the window once Wally introduced his superhero/former villain/Talon boyfriend to them. Everything about Nightwing's presence would rub his parents the wrong way. Wally already knew.

They reached the front porch.

Wally was about to push the doorbell when Nightwing said: "Wait."

He pushed the petunias into Wally's arms and reached for Wally's neck. Carefully running his hands over Wally's collar and straightening it out.

"Messy Wally", Nightwing chuckled.

It was a soft sound. Sweet. Wally couldn't take his eyes off Nightwing because he was gorgeous.

He was wearing a black turtleneck with beige slacks. The hair neatly parted. It was simple, clean and Nightwing looked damn good like this.

Only the glamour charm lessened this moment. It looked perfect – no indication that this was an image thrown over his boyfriend's face. Still, the softness in Nightwing's eyes was muted somehow. Colder than it would be in Nightwing's golden eyes.

Wally swallowed the apprehension. There was a reason he had asked Nightwing to keep on the glamour charm. Bringing a boyfriend home would already be a hard sell to his parents. They didn't need to throw the other stuff at his parents, too.

Nightwing took back the petunias and rang the doorbell. Wally felt his heart racing. The door opened and Wally let out a relieved breath when he recognized Uncle Barry.

The older speedster smiled good-naturedly: "You really came. I'm impressed, Wally."

"How is the mood?", Wally asked.

Barry lowered his voice, talking like a conspirator: "Iris and I prepared them for your arrival. They know that you are bringing Nightwing."

"How did they react?"

"Hard to say", Barry shrugged, "I'm sure it will be fine."

Wally heard the platitudes in Barry's voice. The older speedster was trying to convince himself as much as Wally.

"The Garricks are very excited to meet him", Barry added hastily.

"Jay Garrick be excite meet me?", Nightwing perked up.

"Someone is a fan", Barry grinned.

"I see documentary on TV about Justice Society", Nightwing shuffled his foot awkwardly.

Wally smiled at the barely-contained admiration in Nightwing's voice.

"Jay is the best", Barry said, "And his wife Joan is a sweetheart as well. They'll be excited to meet new family."

"Wally say, too."

Barry laughed good-naturedly: "Come in. The table is already set."

Wally nodded. He swallowed, trying to get rid of his dry throat. It didn't help.

They entered the living room where the entire family was already assembled. An elderly couple – the Garricks – at one side of the table. Iris on the other side with Barry's empty seat next to her. And then there were Wally's parents. His father – Rudy – was sitting there listening to Jay and Joan recounting a story from their wilder days. Wally's mother Mary entered, a bowl of asparagus in her hand.

The conversation stopped when Wally, Nightwing and Barry entered. Wally felt himself freeze.

"Look who came", Barry smiled, "The Allen-West-Garrick family reunion is complete."

"And you brought your boyfriend finally, Wally. Isn't that delightful?", Iris sounded genuinely happy – bless her.

Nightwing stepped towards Iris and held out his hand. He shook her hand and introduced himself to her. Joan followed. Nightwing looked at bit tenser when he came to Jay. If the older man noticed Nightwing's excitement, he didn't show it.

Wally smiled a bit. He hadn't known that Nightwing felt this level of hero worship for his surrogate grandpa – the first Flash. It was adorable.

Then, the moment of truth when Nightwing came face-to-face with Wally's mom. He held out the pot of flowers to her: "Wally tell me you like p- petunias?"

He stumbled over the name of the flowers a bit.

"I do", Mary took it, her face inexpressive.

Wally cringed internally. It wasn't downright rejection, but it wasn't happiness either. Rudy was more obvious in his dislike. He was looking at them, his forehead creased in a frown.

Nightwing held out his hand to him, but Rudy's arms stayed crossed. There was an awkward moment where Nightwing and Rudy stared at each other. Nightwing tilted his head in interest. Rudy's face darkened at the Talon-ness of the gesture.

Wally cleared his throat and grabbed Nightwing's elbow: "Let's sit down."

He steered Nightwing to sit down next to Iris while Wally took the seat next to his parents. He squeezed Nightwing's thigh under the table in silent support.

"What were you talking about, Jay?", Barry said, "Oklahoma City? I always wanted to hear more about that."

Bless him. Barry was boldfaced lying to them. If Jay liked to talk about anything, it was how he had teamed up with Alan Scott in Oklahoma City to save the town from an onslaught of tornadoes.

Jay didn't show it though. Bless him, too. Instead, he went into depth about a story Wally had heard a thousand times. Nightwing hadn't though. He listened to the story, enraptured by it. Chuckling whenever Jay made a joke. And Jay liked his grandpa-jokes.

"Oh Jay", Joan sounded fond at her husband's antics, "You could talk about your adventures with Alan all day."

"How is Alan doing?", Barry asked, "I haven't seen him in a long time."

"Good. I talked to him just yesterday. He is so proud of Jade and Todd. Apparently, they are off into space with their own little team."

"Poor Alan. He has to be lonely with his kids off to explore the galaxy", Joan said.

Jay laughed: "He still has us old dogs. And apparently, he has met someone new. It's very fresh still. He was very tight-lipped about it."

"A man?", Wally's dad asked.

Wally tensed again.

"Of course", Jay said, "Alan has been much more relaxed ever since he told us. Retirement has been kind to him."

"I wonder how his wife would feel about it", Mary shook her head.

"I'm sure Molly would be happy that Alan is happy", Jay said, "At least, the entire Justice Society is happy for him."

Jay looked at Wally directly, smiling good-heartedly. Wally felt a warmth rise up in him. Jay wasn't being subtle in his support, but Wally appreciated it.

"At least, he managed to have kids before coming out as…", Rudy grumbled, "He didn't end his family line over his… preferences."

Wally fought the urge to hide his face in his hands. Here we go.

"I wouldn't see it that way", Barry said, "Adoption is always an option."

"It's not the same though. It's not your blood", Rudy said.

"Batman adopt me", Nightwing spoke up, "He be a great dad."

Before Rudy could speak up, Iris interjected: "I can't imagine Batman as a parent."

"He be very strict and a bit paranoid", Nightwing said, "But he-"

"A bit?", Wally teased.

"A little bit", Nightwing smiled, "But he care lot once you get know him."

"So, there is a heart behind that stoic façade", Jay laughed.

"Very much, Sir. Batman be a big fan of you, Mr. Garrick", Nightwing said, "He never would say but it be true."

Jay laughed: "Call me Jay, boy. Everyone does – especially family."

"Family?", Wally's mom asked.

"Well, they've been dating for almost three years now", Barry said, "I don't think I ever got to three years with anyone."

Iris cleared her throat.

Barry squeezed her shoulder and looked into her eyes: "Except you of course, darling."

"Three years?", Rudy perked up, "That long?"

"Yep", Wally spoke up, his throat dry.

"What about that nice girl you brought over once? The Vietnamese one", Rudy said.

"Artemis? That was forever ago", Wally said, "We're friends now."

"She was so pretty", Wally's mom said, "Your kids would have been so sweet."

Wally's leg vibrated. He felt the need to run – very far away.

"I guess we'll never see that", Wally said, trying to keep his tone light.

"I expected you to bring someone home from college. This girl you talk about sometimes", Rudy said, "What was her name? Alice?"

"Alicia", Wally said, "Another friend. She used to date my roommate."

Like half of the girls in college Wally talked to. Josh was surely enjoying life.

"I guess that would hurt the bro code", Barry joked.

Wally appreciated the attempt, but no one laughed. At some point, the atmosphere at the table had turned incredibly charged. Nightwing looked at Wally. Frowning.

Wally suspected that Nightwing was looking at him for guidance on how to proceed. Wally wished he could give it, but he was sure that this was steering towards disaster and none of them could prevent it.

"Not to mention that Wally has a wonderful boyfriend already", Joan said, "You two look very sweet together."

Wally felt his face heat up.

"Thank you", Nightwing smiled at her.

"Let's eat", Iris took the opportunity, "We don't want Mary's delicious cooking to go to waste."

Wally took a deep breath. Thanking his aunt's ability to dissolve conflicts.

Wally's mom stood up. She put asparagus on everyone's plate.

When she reached the plate in front of Nightwing he said: "I sorry, Ma'am. I not need eat."

"You don't eat asparagus?", annoyance creeped into Mary's tone.

"No. I not can eat at all", Nightwing said, "Or drink."

Mary stood there. Blinking as she tried to process what Nightwing had said. Wally saw his boyfriend become a bit smaller in his chair as the rest of the table looked at him in curiosity.

"You aren't human", Rudy's tone was harsh.

"It complicate", Nightwing's voice was quiet.

He looked at Wally to back him up. But Wally's thoughts were racing. Calculating how much of a disaster this would turn out to be.

"It's pretty clear-cut to me", Rudy said.

Nightwing bit his lip: "I be human before…"

They kill me – Wally could hear Nightwing's unsaid words.

Rudy's gaze pierced into Wally. He shook his head with visible disapproval. Wally sank deeper into his chair, wanting to vanish from this conversation.

"What is this, Wallace? Some strange act of rebellion?", Rudy asked.

"Rudy", Iris sounded scandalized.

"I'm saying what we are all thinking. Not only is bringing Wally home a man. He didn't even have the audacity to bring a normal man home. Instead, he brought this thing."

"I human", Nightwing said – his voice firm.

His piercing gaze met Rudy's eyes.

Rudy avoided it, focusing on Wally instead: "Please tell me this is some practical joke, Wallace. You seriously cannot build a future with this."

Nightwing looked at Wally expectantly. Rudy looked at Wally expectantly. The eyes felt like they were burning into him. Wally couldn't take it. This was everything he had been terrified of as a teenager when he had first learned that his sexuality was less clear-cut than his parents expected it to be.

The words spluttered out of his mouth before he could think, a desperate attempt to appease his dad: "I'm sorry, dad. I always hoped I would fall in love with a normal woman, but I didn't. Not long-term."

The moment Wally said it, he regretted it. Nightwing flinched, hurt apparent in his face. Wally avoided looking at him. Shame rising up in him.

Rudy looked more satisfied: "It is not too late then, son. I am sure you will find someone. There should be nice, young woman that catches your fancy soon."

Wally's heart fell. This had completely derailed, and he didn't know how to fix it anymore.

Barry raised his voice, enraged: "The heart wants what it wants. You should be happy that Wally found someone good."

"Really? Is it good to destroy your future?", Rudy said, "I am just worried for Wally's prospects. He has been doing so well with his physics degree."

"This is ridiculous, Rudy", Jay shook his head, "You don't need a wife to be happy. Alan is living proof."

Rudy said: "With all due respect, Jay, we are talking about my only son. The carrier of my family's legacy."

"Barry is not my blood, but he still carries my legacy as the Flash", Jay said, "I couldn't be prouder. Legacy should be something joyful. Not a stifling burden that you impose on people."

Rudy's face turned red. He was positively seething now. Wally tried to think of what to say. But his head came up empty.

Both Rudy and Jay were firm in their positions. Wally hadn't expected Jay to be so passionate about this topic. He should have - considering Alan was Jay's best friend. It hadn't changed even after Alan had come out to the Justice Society.

Wally's foot was vibrating at this point. He felt a deep-seated need to excuse himself to the bathroom and escape this conversation. But Wally couldn't do that to N. His face had turned blank – a terrible sign.

Wally reached out for Nightwing's thigh again, but Nightwing swatted his hand away before Wally could touch him. Shit. N really was angry with him. He had deflected Rudy's ire for now, but Wally wasn't sure if it had been worth it. He couldn't have won tonight no matter what.

The tense silence was interrupted by a beep coming from Barry's belt.

"You took your League communicator here?", Iris sounded exasperated.

"It's only for emergencies. It's not like I can leave it behind", Barry sounded anxious.

"Flash, come in", the voice sounded like Hal.

"I'm here."

"I'm fighting an unknown entity – and a speedster. I need you."

"A speedster? Who?", Barry sounded alarmed, "It's not Thawne, right?"

"Not anyone I recognize and especially not Thawne. You should hurry because I'm getting laid out. I think it's our mysterious visitor. Coordinates are on the comm."

Barry cursed: "I shouldn't have taken tonight off. It was too risky."

"Never fault yourself for taking time for family, Barry Allen", Iris said, "We couldn't put off the announcement."

"You are right, honey", Barry kissed her on the lips, "I'll take care of this and be back by dessert. Iris and I have an important announcement to make."

"Maybe Wally and I should help", Jay said, "The more speedsters the better, right?"

"You two are retired. I'll handle it."

"If you are sure", Jay frowned.

Joan laughed, putting her hand on Jay's: "So eager to jump back into battle, Jay."

The first Flash smiled: "Old habits are hard to break."

"Easier than your old bones", Joan teased, "You need to look out for yourself."

Jay laughed good-naturedly. He squeezed his wife's hand.

"For you? Always", Jay said.

Barry zipped away. A split moment later – he returned.

"I could use your help, Nightwing. The more support we have the better", Barry said.

Nightwing was eager to stand up. He looked at Wally one last time. No. He glared at Wally. The speedster shuddered. Shit. He had never felt the full force of a Batglare from his boyfriend. This was bad.

Barry left with Nightwing.

Wally felt light-headed suddenly. He stumbled to the bathroom, mumbling an excuse. When he could finally shut the door behind himself, he sank down onto the edge of the bathtub and hid his face in his hands. Why did he feel so trapped suddenly?

Nightwing got a piggyback-ride from Barry to the location of Hal's beacon. Somewhere remote again close to the last energy surge the League had detected. The countryside was nothing but a blur to Nightwing's eyes.

"Rudy can be a real piece-of-work", Barry said.

"I notice."

Nightwing couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice. Wally had completely folded in the face of his father. And why had he been so ashamed about being with Nightwing? Wally had always reassured him that he wanted Nightwing – despite his quirks. Now, Nightwing wasn't sure anymore. What if Wally would drop him the moment, he could reach that normal life his parents wanted for him?

It wasn't like Wally was an average guy himself. If he ever found a normal woman, he would pull her into his crazy world, not the other way around. Even if Wally was retired and broke up with Nightwing, his friends and family were all heroes. Or would he drop them, too, to please his parents? Nightwing couldn't imagine Wally being happy this way.

"Standing up to Rudy isn't easy for Wally", Barry said.

"I understand", Nightwing did.

He had needed years to stand up to Cobb. But he had done it to protect his friends and family – Wally included. It was disappointing that Wally couldn't do the same for him.

"Wally spent most of his time with his Aunt Iris and me – even before the speed. We provided a refuge for him."

"He never tell me about this."

"That's who Wally is. He hides the serious things behind a joke and a smile."

Nightwing frowned. Hadn't Wally reassured him that they could talk about anything? Or did he not trust Nightwing to handle Wally's personal issues? Did he think that Nightwing was too weak, too unstable to be a crutch to Wally? They needed to have a serious talk after this.

"He loves you", Barry said, "You can't take anything seriously he just said. Wally runs his mouth when he's with Rudy."

"Why you defend him in front of me? You not like me. You suppose be happy if we break up."

Barry sighed: "You're right. I don't like you. I think you pulled Wally – my family – into an impossible situation. But Wally loves you and you make him happy. So, I'll always defend him in front of you."

Nightwing couldn't help but respect what Barry had said. It made him understand why Wally idolized his uncle so much.

"We both want Wally be happy", Nightwing said.

"Right. So, maybe we should bury the hatchet for a bit, deal with this and then focus on Wally. The life Rudy tries to press him into would ruin him. We can't let that happen."

"We can't", Nightwing mirrored Barry's words.

Flash stopped. Nightwing hopped off his back immediately, looking around. They were standing in the middle of a field.

"Green Lantern's beacon is close", Flash said.

Nightwing nodded. He frowned when he heard a scream above their heads. Sounded like a woman.

He looked up. Green Lantern – Hal – was floating in the air. He was fighting a woman in green. She met Hal's green constructs with her own bursts of green energy.

Hal formed a hammer trying to knock her out of the air, but the woman dodged and held out her arm. Green energy launched at Hal in a wide bow. It hit him, cutting him down. Flash rushed to catch his friend.

"Took your sweet time", Hal said.

"The woman?", Barry asked, "I thought we were fighting a speedster."

"The speedster vanished. Don't know where he went. And then she showed up", Hal looked at Nightwing, "What is he doing here?"

Nightwing ignored his question: "Woman have Lantern ring?"

"Not any I've ever seen", Hal said, "I think it's our corrupted one. We found our duo."

Nightwing zeroed in on the woman's hand. She was floating in the air, breathing heavily. Her face twisted in agony. There was indeed a green ring around her finger. A glow emanated from it. The veins of the woman glowed in the same color as green creeped along it. Nightwing looked at his own discolored veins – recognizing the symbol of corruption that it was.

The woman aimed at them again. There were tears on her cheeks.

"I don't want to do this. Please don't make me", she muttered.

Nightwing could only make her out because of his fine hearing.

"She not want fight", Nightwing said.

"Well, that doesn't help if she bashes our faces in", Hal said.

Energy built up in the woman's hands. Flash zipped them out of the way before the force could hit them.

"You distract her. I catch her", Hal said.

Flash nodded. He zipped away running circles around the woman. Her hand shook as she tried to hit him with green energy.

Hal formed a pair of pliers with his ring. He plugged the woman out of the air.

She screamed again.

"W- What are you doing to me?", she yelled.

Rarely had Nightwing heard anyone sound so terrified.

Another burst of energy emanated from the woman. It hit all her opponents full force. This time Flash was knocked back, too. Unable to catch Hal.

Nightwing was on the ground. He sat up, holding his head. His wriest burned. He must have hurt it during the fall. It reset itself with a crack.

Flash and Green Lantern were still out. The woman was still floating, her body slumped in mid-air. She looked exhausted.

Nightwing took a smoke pellet out of his pocket and engulfed the field in smoke. It seemed to disorient the woman. Nightwing lunged at her, barely high enough to pull her down by her foot. It wasn't elegant but they landed on the ground.

Nightwing crawled up to the woman. He reached for her ring, grasping it. A cold feeling surged through him. Utter dread.

Pathetic. Weak. Monstrous. Even Wally doesn't want you. He's lying. He showed his true colors today.

A voice whispered in his head. Nightwing jerked back.

The woman looked at him with wide eyes.

"You scare", Nightwing said, "You not need be. We not want hurt you."

Nightwing held up his hands, "I know you not want do this."

I understand. He didn't say it. Didn't dare to. Not with Hal and Barry close.

He crawled closer to the woman. She jerked back.

"No", she covered her ears, "You're making me see it. It's not real."

"Focus on me", Nightwing said, "I be real and I be here for you."

He slowly approached again. She creeped back, screaming as Nightwing got closer.

"MONSTER", her eyes were focused on Nightwing, darting over his monstrous face.

Nightwing jerked as if she had slapped him. She was seeing him. And she thought that Nightwing was so terrifying that he was an illusion of the ring.

Another surge of energy emanated from her. Nightwing was too stunned to dodge. It hit his body full-force. Strong enough to make multiple bones in his body snap. Nightwing blacked out.

Barry held his head, slowly coming back to himself. There was a throbbing in his ankle as if he had sprained it. He sat up. His healing was accelerated but it would still take a few hours until his ankle was completely healed up.

They didn't have hours though. Nightwing was face-to-face with the woman. She shrank back – terrified. Nightwing froze. Energy surged out of her, throwing Nightwing back. He didn't move.

Barry ran towards the woman. She was laying on the ground, her breath rasping. The green in her arms throbbed as it moved up her arm through her veins. Her blood corrupted by the sickly green.

Barry took a syringe out of his pocket. He knelt down, quickly sedating the woman before her weakened body could react to the onslaughts of a speedster. Hal groaned from where he was still lying. His friend approached as the woman stopped moving.

"We got her", Barry said.

"Great", Hal sounded annoyed.

"Nightwing?", Barry asked.

Hal approached the Talon who had sat up. His dress shirt was burned away where the energy had hit him. His chest looked burned. Barry watched as the burns slowly creeped closed. Shedding dead skin. It was not a pretty sight. Nightwing's healing factor was quick but burns always took longer to heal.

Nightwing stood up, his balance still off. Barry gripped his elbow, steadying him. Nightwing tensed. They may have a truce now, but they wouldn't be best friends any time soon.

"Where is your speedster?", Barry asked.

"I don't know", Hal answered, "He's gone."

"I can still feel some residual Speedforce-energy", Barry said, "Maybe I can track them."

"You're injured, Flash", Hal said.

"I am going to heal soon anyway", Barry looked at Nightwing and Hal, "Just don't rip each other's head off before I get back."

"I'm not the one you have to worry about", Hal threw a dirty look at Nightwing.

Nightwing reciprocated. Barry sighed. Hal could be such a child sometimes with his grudges. And Nightwing had a chip on his shoulder that was as big as any Bat's.

Barry ran off, following the draw of the residual Speedforce-energy. He ran through field after field, occasionally crossing torn-up country roads. Nothing else for hundreds of miles. Barry suspected that the Speedster started his recon-missions here to avoid being seen.

Barry stopped suddenly when he couldn't feel any Speedforce-energy anymore. He froze. No energy meant that the Speedster must have stopped running. He was-

The force hit Barry like a bullet. His weak leg broke out from under him. Before he could react, the speedster gripped Barry's collar and pulled him with him. Over hundreds of miles.

Barry was disoriented when they stopped. He looked up. From head to toe, the speedster was dressed in non-descript black. Not even his eyes were visible as they were covered with black goggles.

They were back to where Hal had picked up the energy surge of the multiversal portal.

"Flash", Hal sounded angry, "Let him go, you piece of shit."

Hal rose into the air. He lashed out at the speedster with a hammer. But Barry could see the mistake. The speedster ran up Hal's green construct and kicked him in the face with the full force of someone who had just ran hundreds of miles. Hal went down.

Barry forced himself to stand up. His ankle throbbed from the force of being ripped over the ground. The speedster grabbed Hal, pushing a knife to his neck. But Barry threw himself against him shoving him to the side. Pain erupted in Barry's stomach. Barry didn't realize where it came from. It didn't matter anyway. He needed to fight to protect his friends. So, Barry ignored the pain and hit the speedster in the face.

The speedster growled in response, his own fist shooting out. They were both so quick that their fists must be blurs to anyone except them. Barry trembled. Pain cursing through his body. He could barely pinpoint where it came from. It was everywhere.

Suddenly the speedster yelled. His onslaught stopped. Barry frowned. Then, he saw Nightwing crouched behind the speedster, blood dripping from a knife in his hands. Barry hadn't noticed the Talon approaching.

The speedster fell back, yelling in pain with each step as his legs broke down under him and he landed on his knees. Blood was coating his heels.

"Cut hamstrings", Nightwing's voice was cold.

The speedster's head swung around, looking at Nightwing. There was a moment of stillness.

"It's you", the speedster's distorted voice said.

Nightwing tilted his head. Barry tried to recognize the voice. That voice. It was deeper because of a voice modulator but…

"You are different", the speedster stumbled towards Nightwing.

Nightwing took a step back, bloody knife ready. The speedster's arm was still quick, ripping the knife out of his hand before Nightwing could react.

"I've never seen you like this."

"Who you be?", Nightwing asked.

"The harbinger", the speedster said.

"What mean?"

Barry tensed. He knew what it meant. A harbinger was only the first sign the doom that was to come.

The speedster reached out for Nightwing, his hand stopping midway: "If you're smart, you'll hide. Owlman will want you - especially like this."

"This be threat?"

"It's a warning. I can't let him take you."

"Who you be? Real name."

"We don't have time", the speedster said, "Promise me that you'll hide from the Crime Syndicate."

"Why you attack us?"

"I-", the speedster stumbled forward again.

He reached out, his hand cupping Nightwing's cheek, "Dick, just listen to me. Hide. Don't play hero. You can't win this one."

Barry frowned at the tenderness in the speedster's gaze. No. It couldn't be- This person couldn't-

"You work for them", Nightwing's voice was an accusation.

"I do."

"Why warn?"

The speedster chuckled: "You're like this. Always. Can't just listen, huh?"

"You do recon. You look for weakness."

"I do", the speedster said.

Nightwing grabbed his arm, trying to detain him. The speedster's arm vibrated through Nightwing's grip. Nightwing looked down, his blank mask falling for confusion.

The speedster left some space between them but his voice was intense: "Just hide. Don't fight. It always ends the same."

The speedster hurried away, running on pure adrenaline and accelerated healing. He grabbed the sedated woman and vanished through a portal that appeared out of nothing.

Nightwing looked after them, head tilted. Then, he turned his head to Barry.

Barry laid on the ground. The modulated voice rattling through his head. The tenderness with which the speedster approached Nightwing. It couldn't be. Not with the pain radiating through Barry's body.

"Flash", Nightwing's voice sounded panicked.

Barry frowned. Confused.

He looked down at himself. Only then, did he notice the large gash in his stomach and the bloody knife on the floor. The speedster must have gotten him after all. Barry had been running on adrenaline, only focused on protecting his friends. All at once, pain hit Barry like a wave. It ripped him off his feet. Adrenaline truly was something powerful.

Nightwing dropped down next to Barry, pressing a piece of his dress shirt onto the gash in Barry's stomach.

"Barry", Hal's voice was stuttering – his usual fearless friend terrified.

"Call League. Get medic", Nightwing said.

"You can't order me around", Hal snapped back.

But he grabbed his communicator and yelled at whoever was on the other side. His voice melted in Barry's brain. Everything felt like it was coated into cotton.

"Flash, stay concentrate. Listen", Nightwing's voice was quiet.

He pressed his hands firmer against Barry's stomach, making pain jolt through him.

"Flash, you need-"

Barry didn't understand anymore. The cotton filled his ears. His only thoughts were filled with Iris and the twins that were growing inside her. He needed to get back to the dinner. Share the news.

Barry frowned. He felt so tired. Maybe he wouldn't make it to the dinner after all.

"T- Tell Iris that I love her", Barry said, "And the kids- The kids."

Nightwing's eyes widened. Shock evident on his face.

Barry didn't know what to say anymore. Another shadow dropped down next to him. Hal.

"Wally-", Barry rasped out.

Barry needed to tell Nightwing that he wanted Wally happy. That he couldn't allow himself to be crushed by the weight of legacy. But the cotton filled his mouth and his throat. Barry wanted to burst up. Run. Fight.

But he had used up all his energy to protect his friends. A last surge of energy that was gone now. Barry had used it wisely. He could be proud of himself.

Nightwing flinched when he heard Hal's anguished cry. The Lantern shoved Nightwing aside, pressing down on Barry's stomach. Nightwing allowed himself to be shoved aside. He couldn't take his eyes off Barry's pale face. Nightwing wrapped his arms around himself, feeling as cold as if he was back in the Court's coffin.

The kids.

Iris West was pregnant. And her kids would never meet their father.

A figure landed next to him. Superman gathered Barry in his arms and flew off. It was too late.

If Nightwing knew anything, it was death.

AN: Feel free to yell at me in the comments.